Family pets targeted by thugs

LILLIAN Cresswell has lost one of her family's five pet cats due to poisoning while two others have been seriously injured in separate attacks this year.

Mrs Cresswell, 60, from Gauldry in Fife, said the series of incidents began when a three year-old cat called Squeak had her tail severely damaged in a suspected attack in February of this year. Three weeks later another three-year-old cat, Smudge, had her tail cut off in what appeared to be a deliberate act of cruelty. And in April Maria, a five-year-old cat, died after being poisoned with anti-freeze.

Mrs Cresswell said: "It's despicable that anyone could do this to a family pet."